Game-counter.



Paten'ted Feb.` 20, |900.

R. J.' wlLKE'Ns.

GAME COUNTER.

(Application led 4px'. 15, 1899.)

(No Model.)

Som

/N VEN ron @ign UNITED STrrrIcs PATENT, OFFICE.

REINHARD J. `WILKENS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

GAM E-COUNTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,929, dated February 20, 1900.

Application filed April l5, 1899. Serial No. 7131179. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, REINHARD J. WILKnNs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game-Counters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a new game-counter designed more especially to be used with a game of cards called scat It is not necessary here to enter into a detailed description of this game, but only so much of it will be described as is necessary for the manipulation of the counter.

In the annexed drawings Figure l represents a plan view of the device; Fig. 2, a transverse section taken on the line mx, Fig.l.

In the drawings, the letter A represents a plate of any suitable material, preferably rectangular, but having at the top a curved projection B. In the plate A there are made iive slots a, a', c2, as, and at. The three slots a, a', and a2 are made substantially the width of the plate A. The slots a3 and a4 occupy about half the width of the plate. In these slots are placed double-headed indicators c, c', 02,03, and c4. These indicators have a head on each side of the plate A and a stem O, which fits into the slot of the plate. As indicated, the upper portion Aof these indicators may be in the shape of a button, an arrow, or a hand.

The surface of the plate A above the slot a is spaced off in nine equal spaces and is numbered from l to 9 in order. The surface of the plate between the slots a and a is spaced off in nine equal spaces and numbered from l0 to 90 in order. The surface of the plate between the slots a' and a'a is spaced off in nine equal spaces and is numbered from 100 to 900 in order. The surface of the plate A between the slot a2 and the slot a3 is divided into three spaces and numbered from 1,000 to 3,000 in order. Above the slot at the words Plus and Minus7 are pla-ced with sufiicient space between them. The curved projection B has near its periphery a curved slot b, in which rests an indicator h. Leading from the center of this curved projection B are three arrows pointing to the three numbers 1, 2, and 3.

In using this device for counting the indi cators are shoved to the zero end of the plate that is, to the left-hand end of each slot. As the game progresses and points are made the indicators are slid along the slots, so as to mark or denote the number of points made. As, for example, if at any time the number of points made by one player amounts to two l thousand six hundred and forty-three the indicator c3 would rest at 2,000, indicator c2 at 600, indicator c at 40, and the indicator c at 3. With any increase in the number of his points the indicators would be adjusted to denote such increase. As, for example, should he gain forty-six more points in the next hand the indicator o would be moved up to 80 and the indicator c up to 9. As the number of points added exceeds the number on any given line the indicator of that line is moved back to zero and the ind dicator of the next succeeding line is moved up in proportion to the increment. As thus described the device may be used not only for the game of scat, but also for various other games of cards; but what peculiarly adapts this counter for the game of scat is the fth indicator. In this game the counting is not only done on the plus side, but also upon the minus. In this game the trump is made by one of the players, who bids so many points to have the privilege of making the trump. If he wins a hand, he makes as many points as his hand is worth, but if he fail to make the number of points which he has bid he loses that number of points and goes backward to that amount. It not infrequently happens in this game, either at the outset or after the game has progressed, that a player loses so many points that he is on the minus side of the game and worse off than nothing. With a counter such as shown in the drawings this condition of the player is exactly indicated. ited to a player, the indicator o4 is put at the Plus mark. It', however, on the other hand, there are points charged against him, the indicator is to be placed at the Minus mark. In this way the condition of the player is accurately and clearly iixed without any danger of dispute. Whenever the playershall If points are to be cred-v IOO have recovered the lost points and is on the plus side, the indicator cL1 is moved from minus to plus.

The players, who in scat are three in number, are to be numbered 1, 2, and 3. Each player is provided With one of these counters, and as cach player has the deal the indicator b is to be moved in the slot b and placed at the number of the player who is dealing.

With a device such as this each players counter not only indicates his position in the gaine, but all of the counters indicate the player who has last dealt, so that their agreement on this point prevents any dispute as to Who has the next deal. This counter may have suitable feet or legs D on which to rest. Having described my invention, what I claim is- As a new article of manufacture, a gamecounter, consisting of the plate A, provided with the slots a a' ft2 a3 and a, located as shown, and having the numbers from l to 9 above the slot a; the numbers from l0 to 90 above the slot a; the numbers from 100 to 900 above the slot a2, and the numbers from 1,000 and up above the slot a3, and the Words Plus and Minus just above each end of the slot a4, and the indicators c c c2 c3 and o4, one in each slot, and the top projection B having the slot b in which is an indicator b the arrows and a different number for each arrow, as shown.

In testimony whereof I afx my signatu re in presence of two witnesses.

REINHARD J. IVILKENS.

Witnesses:

EMMA M. GILLETT, W. H. 'SINGLETON 

